Ultrasound scans reveal what smoking does to an unborn baby

Medical professionals have been urging pregnant women to rid of the smoking habit to avoid the risk of premature birth

Unborn babies appear to grimace in the womb when their mothers light a smoke, scientists have shown, demonstrating the harmful effects of smoking during pregnancy.

To the surprise of the viewer, the ultrasound describes how a baby reacts by touching his mouth and face when compared to a non-smoking pregnant mother. Foetuses do touch their faces and mouths but not when they are in the very initial stages. Smoking can also cause the newborn's nervous system to be delayed.

Medical professionals have been urging pregnant women to rid of the smoking habit which is bound to increase the risk of premature birth, problems with respiration and even cot death. The experts now seem to have evidence of the effects on babies while in the womb. The news will also encourage mothers give up smoking.

 



Image shows the 4-D ultrasound scan of two foetuses at 32 weeks gestation, one whose mother was a smoker (top) and the other carried by a non-smoker (bottom). The foetus carried by the smoker touches its face and mouth much more, indicating its development is delayed. PHOTO: Daily Mail

 

It was Dr Nadja Reissland, of the Durham University who used 4-D ultrasound scan images to record thousands of very little movements in the womb. Under the procedure, she kept watch on 20 mothers, of whom four smoked 14 cigarettes on average.

Their scans were studied at weeks 24, 28, 32 and 36 and these revealed that mother who smoked showed substantial mouth movement and self-touching when combined with the mothers who did not smoke.

Reissland explained that the unborn do move their mouths and touch themselves less as they gain more control the closer they get to birth.

Hoping to give the study an expansion, the doctor found out babies carried by smoking mothers can cause a delay in the development of central nervous system.

She asserted, 'A larger study is needed to confirm these results and to investigate specific effects, including the interaction of maternal stress and smoking.'

Reissland was confident that videos showing the clear difference in the developing stage can help mothers struggling to abandon smoking.

 

Dr Nadja Reissland, of Durham University, said the ultrasound scans show unborn babies of mothers who smoke may have delayed development of their central nervous systems. PHOTO: Daily Mail

 

She, however, opposed demonising mothers and said it is actually the support that can help them give up the habit.

At present, 12 percent of pregnant women in the UK smoke but the rate in the North East is much worrying with over 20 percent in certain areas.

It is also interesting to note that all the babies in her study were born healthy, and were of normal size and weight as Dr Reissland thanked the mothers who took part in her study, "especially the ones who smoked."

"I'm really grateful, they did a good thing," she expressed. "These are special people and they overcame the stigma to help others."

Another expert, co-author Professor Brian Francis from the Lancaster University also said, 'Technology means we can now see what was previously hidden, revealing how smoking affects the development of the foetus in ways we did not know.

'This is yet further evidence of the negative effects of smoking in pregnancy,' he concluded.

 

The story was originally published in Daily Mail